underclassmen – Inside The Billshttp://blogs.buffalobills.com
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96 eligible underclassmen for 2016 NFL drafthttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2016/01/22/96-eligible-underclassmen-for-2016-nfl-draft/
Fri, 22 Jan 2016 19:11:50 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=46235]]>The NFL released their official list of eligible underclassmen for the 2016 NFL draft and the total number was 96. That’s just two shy of the record 98 set in 2014. Here’s a look at all of the prospects who hope to hear their name called sometime during the final weekend in April.

Player

Pos.

College

1

Bralon Addison

WR

Oregon

2

Dominique Alexander

LB

Oklahoma

3

Mackensie Alexander

DB

Clemson

4

Eli Apple

DB

Ohio State

5

Demarcus Ayers

WR

Houston

6

Peyton Barber

RB

Auburn

7

Vonn Bell

DB

Ohio State

8

Caleb Benenoch

T

UCLA

9

Andrew Billings

DT

Baylor

10

Dariusz Bladek

G

Bethune-Cookman

11

Joey Bosa

DE

Ohio State

12

Tyler Boyd

WR

Pittsburgh

13

Daniel Braverman

WR

Western Michigan

14

Beniquez Brown

LB

Mississippi State

15

Artie Burns

DB

Miami

16

Kenny Clark

DT

UCLA

17

Corey Coleman

WR

Baylor

18

Trenton Coles

DB

Duquesne

19

Alex Collins

RB

Arkansas

20

Maliek Collins

DT

Nebraska

21

Jack Conklin

T

Michigan State

22

Pharoh Cooper

WR

South Carolina

23

Kamalei Correa

DE

Boise State

24

Su’a Cravens

LB

Southern California

25

Elijah Daniel

DT

Murray State

26

Terrell Davis

LB

British Columbia

27

Kevin Dodd

DE

Clemson

28

Thomas Duarte

TE

UCLA

29

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

Ohio State

30

Leonard Floyd

LB

Georgia

31

Kendall Fuller

DB

Virginia Tech

32

Will Fuller

WR

Notre Dame

33

Jared Goff

QB

California

34

T.J. Green

DB

Clemson

35

David Grinnage

TE

North Carolina State

36

Christian Hackenberg

QB

Penn State

37

Vernon Hargreaves

DB

Florida

38

Jerald Hawkins

T

Louisiana State

39

Derrick Henry

RB

Alabama

40

Hunter Henry

TE

Arkansas

41

Willie Henry

DT

Michigan

42

Rashard Higgins

WR

Colorado State

43

Austin Hooper

TE

Stanford

44

Jordan Howard

RB

Indiana

45

Xavien Howard

DB

Baylor

46

Germain Ifedi

T

Texas A&M

47

Myles Jack

LB

UCLA

48

Cardale Jones

QB

Ohio State

49

Cayleb Jones

WR

Arizona

50

Chris Jones

DT

Mississippi State

51

Jayron Kearse

DB

Clemson

52

Denver Kirkland

T

Arkansas

53

Darius Latham

DT

Indiana

54

Kenny Lawler

WR

California

55

Shaq Lawson

DE

Clemson

56

Darron Lee

LB

Ohio State

57

Roger Lewis

WR

Bowling Green

58

Steve Longa

LB

Rutgers

59

Paxton Lynch

QB

Memphis

60

Jalin Marshall

WR

Ohio State

61

Alex McCalister

DE

Florida

62

Brett McMakin

LB

Northern Iowa

63

Keanu Neal

DB

Florida

64

Yannick Ngakoue

DE

Maryland

65

Robert Nkemdiche

DT

Mississippi

66

Marquez North

WR

Tennessee

67

Emmanuel Ogbah

DE

Oklahoma State

68

Paul Perkins

RB

UCLA

69

Joe Powell

DB

Globe

70

C.J. Prosise

RB

Notre Dame

71

Jalen Ramsey

DB

Florida State

72

Alex Redmond

G

UCLA

73

Hassan Ridgeway

DT

Texas

74

A’Shawn Robinson

DT

Alabama

75

Demarcus Robinson

WR

Florida

76

Rashard Robinson

DB

Louisiana State

77

Aldrick Rosas

K

Southern Oregon

78

Zack Sanchez

DB

Oklahoma

79

Isaac Seumalo

G

Oregon State

80

Wendell Smallwood

RB

West Virginia

81

Jaylon Smith

LB

Notre Dame

82

Tyrell Smith

T

Massachusetts

83

Ronnie Stanley

T

Notre Dame

84

Kelvin Taylor

RB

Florida

85

Ron Thompson

DE

Syracuse

86

Laquon Treadwell

WR

Mississippi

87

Laremy Tunsil

T

Mississippi

88

Quinn van Gylswyk

K

British Columbia

89

Nick Vigil

LB

Utah State

90

Cleveland Wallace

DB

San Jose State

91

Dwayne Washington

RB

Washington

92

Stephen Weatherly

LB

Vanderbilt

93

De’Runnya Wilson

WR

Mississippi State

94

Daryl Worley

DB

West Virginia

95

Scooby Wright

LB

Arizona

96

Avery Young

T

Auburn

The following 11 players have in timely fashion under NFL rules officially notified the league office that they have fulfilled their degree requirements. So they too are eligible for selection in the 2016 NFL draft.

Player

Pos.

College

1

Roberto Aguayo

K

Florida State

2

Travis Blanks

LB

Clemson

3

Zac Brooks

RB

Clemson

4

Eric Enderson

P

Delaware

5

Austin Johnson

DT

Penn State

6

Keith Marshall

RB

Georgia

7

Tyvis Powell

DB

Ohio State

8

Noah Spence

DE

Eastern Kentucky

9

Michael Thomas

WR

Ohio State

10

Corey Tindal

DB

Marshall

11

Vincent Valentine

DT

Nebraska

]]>Chris BrownFan Friday 3-21http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/03/21/fan-friday-3-21/
Fri, 21 Mar 2014 15:39:50 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=37851]]>Free agency is still up and running, but the focus will steadily move toward the NFL draft. In the meantime we answer some of your questions from email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – Hi Chris, In putting on your Draft Hat, who do you think the Bills will draft over the first three rounds? By position I would to see a LB, OL, TE. It would not surprise me if they trade down in the first round again in order to gain additional picks.

Thanks very much, as always I appreciate your input.

Bob Hammond Rochester, NY

CB: I think based on what they’ve acquired in free agency to this point (2 LB, 1 G, 1 CB, 1 RB) it has not changed much. Here’s why. I see the three positions you mentioned along with WR as their top four needs. Though they have added a pair of linebackers who each figure to have starting roles and play a lot, the depth at linebacker is not where it needs to be. So I do expect them to take a linebacker. I’m just not sure it’s going to be early.

On the offensive line with Erik Pears entering the final year of his contract and Chris Hairston’s status still up in the air pending a medical re-check this spring, offensive tackle is a position I expect to be addressed in the first two rounds. The same goes for wide receiver preferably one that is 6’3” or taller.

Tight end could be a consideration if the right kind of game breaking talent is there, but absent that opportunity I don’t think we see one added to the roster.

2 – Chris,

With so many underclassmen declaring for the draft. Do you anticipate a richer pool of undrafted free agent?

Harris W.

CB: I think that is a very safe assumption. In fact talking to some NFL GMs at the NFL combine most of them seem to be more excited about the quality of talent they’ll be able to sign after the draft is over. With 100 underclassmen declaring for the draft this spring, it’s essentially three extra rounds of prospects that won’t get drafted. So the undrafted pool might be the deepest ever.

3 – Hey Chris,

Thanks for all of your combine coverage, its great. My question is about the draft. I think that the Bills need to surround EJ with more weapons before addressing the O-line in the later rounds. What do you think about getting Ebron or Watkins in the first and then someone like Gabe Jackson or Cyrus Kouandjio in the second? Or maybe a Martavus Bryant in the third? He is a big fast receiver that we are looking for. I think Ebron and Watkins would be a great explosive weapon for EJ. What are your thoughts?

Go Bills!Mike

CB: I think there is depth at offensive tackle where you could find a starting caliber player in round two.

If Sammy Watkins is there at nine the Bills will sprint up to the podium with the card. However, I’d be stunned if he’s still on the board past Oakland at five. I think ninth is too high for Ebron. I’d consider Texas A&M’s Mike Evans.

An offensive tackle I like for round two is Tennessee’s Tiny Richardson. If there’s a run on tackles late in round one however, I’m worried he won’t be there. We’ll see.

4 – Hello Chris,

I am struggling to figure out why the Bills are not on the QB needy teams list? What evidence was provided last year that EJ Manuel is at all capable of winning games yet alone a super bowl championship? His short passes were off target and thrown with way too much velocity. His deep ball was nonexistent. I’ve been a Bills fan for over twenty some odd years since I watched Ronnie Harmon drop the ball in the end zone in Cleveland. I have never felt compelled to ever write before but Myself and many, many others cannot sit by and watch another 3 years of this kid stink it up. Please tell Russ, Doug , Jim O, and Coach to move up and get the A&M kid. Everyone knows EJ is not the goods.

At the very least can someone at least acknowledge this and stop trying to convince themselves by trying to convince us, You don’t move back in the draft if you think the guy is the “guy” you take him at 8 or whatever they picked last year, Seriously I’m begging. I listen to Murphy and I realize how difficult it’s becoming to even be fan of this team any longer. We don’t need a receiver or tight end…We need a Quarterback!

Thank you and enjoy your work.Paul

CB: I’m going to respectfully disagree with you here. Ten NFL starts does not a career make. If that was the case Troy Aikman would’ve been run out of Dallas on a rail when they went 1-15 in his first NFL season as a starter. Buffalo’s personnel execs are all in on EJ Manuel, so giving up on him after 10 games, which truth be told had some encouraging and discouraging performances, would be foolhardy after investing a first-round pick.

You have to trust in your coaches to develop him and his work ethic to lead to appreciable improvement. You’re entitled to your opinion just like everyone else. I just think no matter what side of the fence anyone is on concerning EJ, all of it is premature.

5 – Chris,

TheBills QB’s: EJ, Tuel and Thad Lewis Do you envision the Bills adding depth at the position in the draft say an Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger who may fall due to knee injuries, and may be perfect for the Bills to groom behind EJ this year. Or do you think they prefer someone with more experience? Along the lines of: Josh freeman, Chad Henne, Josh McCown

-Jim

CB: I’m going to let Bills GM Doug Whaley handle this one with a recent comment he made on the radio last week.

This was his response when asked in a radio interview if they planned to add a quarterback in free agency or the draft.

“At this time no, but again we will keep all options open,” Whaley said.

Whaley then went on to indicate that they’d be fine going into camp with the three quarterbacks on their roster (Manuel, Lewis, Tuel) along with their practice squad QB who was on the roster last year.

“Comfortable, very comfortable and then you throw Dennis Dixon in,” he said. “All those guys are going to be another year in the system, so if you bring someone else in they’ll be new in the system. So we’re comfortable with where we are with the quarterback position.”

]]>Chris BrownA closer look at draft’s underclassmenhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2013/01/31/a-closer-look-at-drafts-underclassmen/
Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:10:34 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=28389]]>The 2013 NFL draft will have a record 73 underclassmen in the pool of prospects. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the junior eligibles courtesy of DraftMetrics.com.

Only one of the 73 underclassmen is a quarterback this year. There were five quarterbacks in the 2012 draft pool that were underclassmen. Per DraftMetrics nearly two-thirds of the drafted quarterbacks were taken in the first round over the past 10 years.

Finally, since 2003, about 75 percent of the players declaring early ended up being drafted.

]]>Chris BrownAnother record year for underclassmenhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2013/01/15/another-record-year-for-underclassmen/
Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:57:45 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=27968]]>Once again the number of underclassmen has set a new mark with 74 underclassmen declaring for the 2013 NFL draft. Today is the last day for underclassmen to forgo their remaining college eligibility and enter the draft pool. There might still be a few more today, but for now here are the 74 underclassmen that have declared by position.

The list was compiled by CBSSports.com. Last year there were 65 underclassmen that declared for the draft.

]]>Chris Brown65 underclassmen in draft poolhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2012/01/18/61-underclassmen-in-draft-pool/
Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:27:36 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=19655]]>Here are the 65 underclassmen that declared themselves eligible for the 2012 NFL draft. The total of 61 breaks last year’s record of 56 underclassmen, so the new CBA with reduced financial windfalls for rookies has apparently not dissuaded underclassmen from forgoing their senior seasons.

]]>Chris BrownUnderclassmen that have declaredhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2012/01/06/underclassmen-that-have-declared/
Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:06:03 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=19494]]>Here’s an updated rundown of the college underclassmen that have declared themselves eligible for the 2012 NFL Draft. The deadline to declare for this year’s draft is Jan. 15th.

]]>Chris BrownFinal underclassmen listhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2011/01/19/final-underclassmen-list/
Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:19:18 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=13028]]>Here’s the final official list of underclassmen that have been granted eligibility for the 2011 NFL draft. There are a record-high 56 players in all, up from last year’s 53.

]]>Chris BrownDeclared underclassmenhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2011/01/15/declared-underclassmen/
Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:47:32 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=12996]]>Here is the latest list of underclassmen that have declared for the 2011 NFL Draft. There are currently 52 with one day left to declare (Jan. 15th).

]]>Chris BrownSkill positions dominate underclass eligibleshttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2009/01/16/skill-positions-dominate-underclass-eligibles/
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:56:34 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=1624]]>Not surprisingly, the skill position players dominate the group of 41 underclassmen that have declared for the NFL draft this spring.

Receiver was the position with the most underclass declarations with nine. In fact the receiver (9) and running back (7) positions account for almost 40 percent of the early eligibles for the draft this spring.

Cornerbacks were the next highest position group with six of them leaving school early.

The fewest declarations were made at safety (1), linebacker (1), guard (1) and offensive tackle (2) with players like USC’s Taylor Mays and Florida’s Brandon Spikes choosing to return to school for their senior years factoring into those low figures. There were no early declarations made by centers or fullbacks, but that is usually the case.